title: Update on new drugs in small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) will account for 25,000 to 32,000 new lung cancer cases in the USA in 2010. Current treatmenta pproaches include platinum-based chemotherapy and etoposide with or without radiation therapy depending on stage and performance status. Five-year survival is approximately 25% for patients with limited stage disease and 1 -- 2% for patients with extensive stage disease and has noti mproved in almost two decades.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article reviews the results of recent clinical trials that have evaluated targeted agents and novel cytotoxic agents alone or in combination with standard chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with SCLC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of a targeted approach to the treatment of patients with SCLC has led investigators to evaluate a multitude of agents with overwhelmingly negative results. A more systematic approach to clinical trials in patients is needed to improve outcomes for patients with this disease.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Division of Heamology & Medical Oncology, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. leora.horn@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Leora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Emily Louise
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Castellanos
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; C110525:amminedichloro(2-methylpyridine)platinum(II)